Valentino wants to keep the Oracle, his rundown movie palace, from being condemned before he can even reopen it, but murder keeps intruding on his otherwise quiet life in this second outing for the film archivist and part-time sleuth. At a gala party in memory of screen legend Greta Garbo, a developer named Rankin tells him about a letter from Garbo to Rankin's late wife, who was evidently more than just a friend to Garbo. Even though Valentino is appalled to learn that Rankin's assistant is using the letter to blackmail him, as a film scholar he too would really like to read it. When Valentino goes to the developer's mansion to discuss the matter however, he finds him with a pistol in his hand and the ex-assistant dead on the floor. The creator of P.I. Amos Walker, Old West marshal Page Murdock, and hitman Peter Macklin, as well as the author of the Edgar-nominated Whiskey River, four-time Shamus Award winner Loren Estleman gives us to a different sort of sleuth in a mild-mannered film buff named after the greatest lover of silent film.

"Shamus winner Estleman's captivating second mystery to feature L.A. film detective Valentino focuses on legendary screen actress Greta Garbo.... Rankin offers to donate a copy of a rare promotional film that Garbo made when she was a salesgirl in Sweden, How Not to Dress, to the UCLA Film Preservation Department if Valentino will dig up dirt on Roger Akers, the tycoon's assistant, who's been blackmailing him. A few days later, Valentino walks into Rankin's study to find the mogul holding a smoking gun.... Rankin claims he shot Akers in self-defense. Is Rankin telling the truth? Readers will eagerly turn the pages to learn the answer."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)